The root beer that we know now happens to be the very first soda drink ever introduced in America. It was during the 1800s or what we know as the Colonial times that the first root beer was born, at that time the root beer was more popularly known as small beer. Small beer was aptly named because this beverage contained only a very small amount of alcohol or maybe even none, it's mainly made of roots, barks and herbs.
The First Commercially Manufactured Root Beer
Charles Hires, a Philadelphia, PA pharmacist, is credited with making the first root beer to be sold commercially in America. Unfortunately, the way it all came to be is largely lost to history. One of the most popular stories though is that one day, on his honeymoon; Mr. Hires developed a tea using over twenty-five different herbs, berries and roots.
It was also said that the dry form of this new brew became available in his Pharmaceutical Shop when he and his new wife returned to his hometown in Philadelphia. Not long after, he started to work on using flavored carbonated soda water to come up with the liquid version of the tea.
The people that Mr. Hires gave his drink to loved the taste so much that he decided to introduce it commercially at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, where it was very well received. Finally in 1893 the Hires Family sold and distributed the first bottled root beer.
What Makes Root Beer Taste So Unique
There is no one formula that has been used over the years to make root beer. Some of the most common ingredients that make up most recipes include wintergreen, sarsaparilla, birch bark, ginger root, allspice, burdock root, dandelion root, pipsissewa, spice wood, wild cherry bark, and spikenard. Each brewer would then put their own spin on these basic ingredients using differing amounts, as well as adding additional herbs, roots, and/or berries, and often using a sweetener like sugar, molasses, or honey.
With the onset of modernization and the availability of artificial flavorings you will find that most of the bottled root beers you now find in stores no longer contain any of the original herbs found in the root beer of the 1800s. Lately though some areas of the country have started to make locally brewed root beer. Micro- brewery movement have made small batch root beers available once more. These small batch root beers are flavored using the original herbs and roots and sweetened by natural sugar or honey.
Root beer has become so popular that you see them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people of all ages. More and more brands of this popular drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich historical background that can be a source of pride for all Americans.
The First Commercially Manufactured Root Beer
Charles Hires, a Philadelphia, PA pharmacist, is credited with making the first root beer to be sold commercially in America. Unfortunately, the way it all came to be is largely lost to history. One of the most popular stories though is that one day, on his honeymoon; Mr. Hires developed a tea using over twenty-five different herbs, berries and roots.
It was also said that the dry form of this new brew became available in his Pharmaceutical Shop when he and his new wife returned to his hometown in Philadelphia. Not long after, he started to work on using flavored carbonated soda water to come up with the liquid version of the tea.
The people that Mr. Hires gave his drink to loved the taste so much that he decided to introduce it commercially at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, where it was very well received. Finally in 1893 the Hires Family sold and distributed the first bottled root beer.
What Makes Root Beer Taste So Unique
There is no one formula that has been used over the years to make root beer. Some of the most common ingredients that make up most recipes include wintergreen, sarsaparilla, birch bark, ginger root, allspice, burdock root, dandelion root, pipsissewa, spice wood, wild cherry bark, and spikenard. Each brewer would then put their own spin on these basic ingredients using differing amounts, as well as adding additional herbs, roots, and/or berries, and often using a sweetener like sugar, molasses, or honey.
With the onset of modernization and the availability of artificial flavorings you will find that most of the bottled root beers you now find in stores no longer contain any of the original herbs found in the root beer of the 1800s. Lately though some areas of the country have started to make locally brewed root beer. Micro- brewery movement have made small batch root beers available once more. These small batch root beers are flavored using the original herbs and roots and sweetened by natural sugar or honey.
Root beer has become so popular that you see them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people of all ages. More and more brands of this popular drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich historical background that can be a source of pride for all Americans.
About the Author:
Beverages Direct offers a large selection of unique and hard to find sodas including gourmet root beers, creme sodas, ginger ales and other specialty soda flavors.
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